Apparatus for generating graphical configurations

Abstract

Apparatus for forming graphical configurations, such as alphanumeric characters, on a radiant energy surface, such as the face of a cathode ray tube, with an energy beam. The apparatus includes a path segment length command means which serves to provide a series of sets of coded command signals. Each set of coded command signals defines the length of an associated path segment of a path to be traced on the surface. A beam controller serves to deflect the beam to trace a predetermined scan path on the surface starting from a preselected starting location. The path includes a plurality of successive path segments which are of lengths dependent upon associated successive sets of coded command signals. These path segments alternate between being inside and outside of the area of a configuration to be formed on the surface. The beam is controlled such that it is continuously blanked while tracing the segments which are outside of the configuration area.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. Apparatus for forming graphical configurations on an energy responsive surface with an energy beam and comprising: path segment length command means including means for providing a series of sets coded command signals with each said set of coded command signals defining the length of an associated path segment of a path to be traced on said surface by said beam; beam control means including means for controlling deflection of said beam to trace a nonlinear predetermined scan path on said energy responsive surface from a preselected starting location thereon, said path having at least one portion which at least partially circumscribes a second portion of said path, said path being comprised of a plurality of successive path segments of length dependent upon associated successive said sets of coded command signals such that alternate ones of said segments are inside and outside of the surface area of a configuration to be formed on said surface, and beam exposure means for alternately blanking and unblanking of said beam such that said beam is blanked while tracing a said outside segment and is unblanked while tracing a said inside segment. 
     
     
       2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said beam exposure control means includes circuit means responsive to alternate said sets of coded command signals for alternately blanking and unblanking said beam as it traces successive said path segments. 
     
     
       3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein each said set of coded command signals is representative of a number of preset beam displacement increments along said scan path for an associated said path segment. 
     
     
       4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said beam control means includes means for incrementally deflecting said beam by said preset increments for a number of increments for each said path segment dependent upon the associated said set of coded command signals. 
     
     
       5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said path segment length command means includes counting means for counting clock pulses for each path segment until the number of counted clock pulses corresponds with the representation of an associated said set of coded command signals, and said beam control means includes means for incrementally deflecting said beam along said path by a number of said preset increments in dependence upon the number of clock pusles counted by said counting means for said path segment. 
     
     
       6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said beam control means include means for controlling said beam to move along said path by a number of said preset increments in dependence upon the number of clock pulses applied thereto, and means for applying said clock pulses for each said path segment in dependence upon the associated said set of coded command signals. 
     
     
       7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said beam control means includes first and second reversible counter means adapted to count clock pulses provided by a clock pulse source in a forward direction or in a reverse direction; counter control means for selectively controlling said first and second counter means so that only one of said counter means is effective to count said clock pulses in a selected one of said directions in dependence upon a preselected scan path to be traversed by said beam, and beam deflection circuit means for deflecting said beam along respectively mutually perpendicular coordinate axes in dependence upon the counts registered by said first and second counter means. 
     
     
       8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said counter control means include circuit means responsive to said clock pulses for controlling said first and second counter means to count said clock pulses in such a manner that the registered counts command that said beam incrementally trace a continuous spiral, rectangular path on said surface. 
     
     
       9. Apparatus for forming graphical configurations on a radiant energy responsive surface with a radiant energy beam and comprising: beam deflection means for deflecting a said beam along a continuous nonlinear predetermined scan path having portions of the length thereof at least partially circumscribing other portions of the length thereof and wherein said path commences at a given location within a configuration field area on said surface; means for providing a series of sets of coded command signal with each set providing instructions as to the length of an associated path segment of said scan path and commencing from said given location such that said scan path is comprised of alternate said segments which are respectively inside the outside the surface area of a configuration to be formed on said surface; and beam exposure control means responsive to successive sets of said coded command signals for alternately blanking and unblanking said beam. 
     
     
       10. Apparatus for forming graphical configurations on an energy responsive surface with an energy beam and comprising: beam path control means for controlling a said beam to trace a predetermined nonlinear scan path on said surface starting from a given location thereon and continuing therefrom such that said path has at least one portion thereof which at least partially circumscribes another portion thereof; means for providing a series of sets of coded command signals with successive said sets respectively providing instructions for the lengths of successively associated segments of said scan path, said series of sets of command signals being alternately representative of configuration segments and nonconfiguration segments, and beam exposure control means for energizing said beam only as said beam traces configuration forming segments on said surface. 
     
     
       11. Apparatus for forming graphic configurations on a radiant energy responsive surface with a radiant energy beam and wherein: said surface has at least one configuration field area having a given plurality of incremental areas of which at least some will be within the boundaries of a configuration to be formed on said surface, said apparatus comprising:   beam deflection means for deflecting a said beam along a single continuous nonlinear predetermined scan path which commences at a given location within said configuration field area and continues therefrom so as to pass over each said incremental surface area only once during the tracing of said single scan path;   means for providing a series of sets of coded command signals with each set providing instruction as to the length of an associated path segment of said scan path with said path segments commencing from said given location and alternately being inside and outside the surface area of a configuration to be formed on said surface;   and beam exposure control means responsive to successive sets of said coded command signals for alternately blanking and unblanking said beam.   
     
     
       12. Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said scan path is a rectangular spiral-like path having portions thereof which at least partially circumscribe other portions thereof.